Thank you in advance for your support of Sleep Equity for all our children. The AAP sleep guidelines are below. ALL children need sleep. And while the Board of Ed is working towards optimizing a proposed plan it has not provided it to the public. Under the current proposed plan elementary schools would start at 7:45am requiring a first pick up at 7:06 in the morning and at minimum significantly more childcare currently not available in town, 5/6 9:15 start which would require a new before school program for dual working families and limit after school opportunities significantly and 7-12 at 8:30. This would represent the earliest elementary school start time in all of Connecticut and an average of one hour earlier than the other schools.

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Supports-Childhood-Sleep-Guidelines.aspx

The results appeared clear from the Hanover Survey (conducted in the Fall) that the thousands of respondents were not in favor of taking sleep from elementary school kids. However, the board commissioned another survey in October of last year, just two months prior to their decision. The results came back clearly reaffirming the initial survey findings. When respondents were provided three clear schedule options the current option was again the lowest scoring, least desirable alternative. Which brings to serious question why this is the alternative the board has arrived at.

If you do not support the current proposed plan please sign this petition which will be brought to the attention of the Board of Education, Board of Finance and Town Council who are currently reviewing 2020-2021 budgets. The current unsupported plan costs $1MM (and not all costs were in at the time of budget creation) with an annual running cost of $250k - if we are to invest this sum let's make sure it reflects the wishes of the community and the best scenario for our children.

ALL our children deserve the right plan not just a plan. Time is of the essence - public hearings from the Board of Finance is March 3rd.

Thank you!